In this article, we will take a really good look at the Nomatic Travel Pack. And I mean it – I’m about to cover all its pros and cons, plus an in-depth analysis of all its key features.
I assure you that by the end of this Nomatic travel pack review, you’ll confidently know whether or not this bag is the right fit for your travel needs.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
The Nomatic Travel Backpack has well-thought-out features for your convenience and comfort. You can easily fit your work essentials, and tech gadgets, as well as a weekend’s worth of clothes and toiletries. Plus, the bag can be expanded or compressed to meet your specific trip requirements. While the bag may be pricey, its sturdy construction and rugged materials ensure exceptional durability and strength.
Of course, the Nomatic Travel Pack is not perfect. When fully loaded, the bag can become quite heavy and uncomfortable to carry for extended periods. Additionally, some users find that the bag’s many features can be overwhelming and don’t always work seamlessly together.
Despite these issues, the Travel Pack’s value proposition is bolstered by its durable construction and a generous warranty.
I have thoroughly tested – and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is my rating on the Nomatic Travel Pack:
- Durability: 4.7/5
- Wow Factor: 4.7/5
- Style: 4.5/5
- Functionality: 4/5
- Price: 3/5
- Overall: 4.7/5
Pros:
- Functional and versatile for everyday use and travel
- 20+ features to keep everything organized
- Expandable
- Carry-on baggage optimized
- Sleek and minimalist in design
- Durable and water-resistant
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Slightly over-designed
- Not comfortable to wear at full capacity
Specs:
- Capacity: 20L – 30L (expanded)
- Weight (lb): 4.16 lb (1.9 kg)
- Dimensions: 18.5 in x 12 in x 6-9.5 inches (47 x 30.5 x 24.1 cm) Expanded
- Laptop Pocket: 16″ x 10.5″ x 1.5″
- Materials: Tarpaulin, Woojin Hardware, Zoom Zippers, YKK Zippers
- Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
I am going to share with you all the things I love about the Nomatic Travel Pack – from its cool and innovative features to the tiny details that users of this bag have gushed about.
So let’s get into it!
The Nomatic Travel Pack, which is a streamlined version of the Nomatic Travel Bag, is an ideal choice for both daily use and short travel due to its sleek and functional design.
With a capacity of 20-30L and smart packing features, the bag can even expand up to 50% to accommodate extra items for 1-3 days trips.
One of the unique features of this pack is its patent-pending strap system that enables a quick transformation from backpack to briefcase, making it ideal for those occasions when you need to look more professional. This means you can use it as a work bag during the day and head straight to the airport for a weekend getaway without the need for a separate bag.
Apart from its exceptional functionality, the NOMATIC Travel Pack has a minimalist design that seamlessly blends into any urban setting. 2
While researching this bag, a common question was: is the Nomatic travel pack waterproof? This sparked my curiosity to delve into the bag’s construction details. Upon inspection, I discovered that it is crafted from sturdy and water-resistant tarpaulin material with reinforced stitching that promises longevity.
The zippers are also water-resistant, and the strap adjuster and buckle are made of rust-resistant Woodjin hardware.
While it is water-resistant, the Nomatic Travel Pack is not entirely waterproof and is not suitable for challenging hikes or expeditions. Additionally, compared to other materials like nylon or polyester, the tarpaulin material is susceptible to scratches and marks that may not fade over time.
Overall, the Travel Pack is a dependable and well-made bag perfect for everyday use and travel.
3. It comes with 20+ innovative features
Nomatic’s Travel Pack has over 20 innovative features, making it the most functional travel pack yet.
One such feature is its patent-pending strap design that enables the Nomatic Travel Pack to be used as a backpack or duffel bag. Simply tuck the straps behind the back panel and snap them down for a professional look, or pop them out for on-the-go use as a backpack.
But that’s not all!
The bag also features a full perimeter expansion zipper that can increase its capacity from 20-30L, giving you even more space to pack everything you need.
And with additional features like magnetic water bottle pockets, a hardshell sunglasses case, a retractable key leash, and a luggage strap for attachment to roller luggage, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips.
Reflective ink on the front and back of the bag increases visibility in low-light conditions, while its numerous pockets ensure easy organization.
4. The bag is spacious and expandable with tons of handy pockets
If you’re a traveler who prioritizes organization (or who, ahem, needs more of it) then this bag may just be the one for you.
The Nomatic Travel Pack features a ridiculous number of cleverly designed compartments and pockets (about 22 of em) throughout the pack, which makes it easy to organize everything you need while on the go.
From a protective laptop compartment to magnetic water bottle pockets and hidden pockets, you may even need a tutorial video for all the Travel Pack Nomatic pack has.
If you don’t wanna watch the video, here is a list of the standout pockets:
- a quick access fleece pocket great for your phone or sunglasses
- Magnetic water bottle pockets: it expands when you need the space and snap shut and looks sleek when not in use. How cool is that!
- The accessory compartment: In front of the bag is a compartment with an organizer panel. It has four elastic mesh divider pockets for your cords, power banks, and other small items. Down below is a dedicated pocket for a notebook or bigger items.
- RFID safe pocket: On the other side of the compartment is a lockable RFID safe pocket for a passport and other items you can scan. Directly below that is a zippered pocket as well as two divider pockets and then two slots for a pen/pencil on the side.
- Hidden pocket: Behind the back panel is a zippered pocket where you can stash your credit cards, cash, and other valuables safe from thieves.
- Main compartment: This compartment which opens clamshell-style like a suitcase has two pockets on one side of the bag and four mesh pockets on the other side with a sunglasses case and a retractable key leash.
- Tech compartment: There’s a padded laptop sleeve for a 15-inch device and a 13-inch tablet pocket that opens and lays flat to make the TSA checkpoint a breeze. You’ll also like to know that it’s suspended a couple of inches away from the edge of the bag to protect your expensive devices from accidental falls or hasty drops.
- Expandable from 20-30L: Thanks to its full perimeter expansion zippers, you can expand the bag from 20l to 30l if you ever need the space. All you have to do is unzip the zipper in the middle of the bag, and you have a big space to organize your 2-3 days traveling items or even up to a week if you use packing cubes.
- It also has an integrated mesh dividing wall to separate your clothes from the rest of your gear.
Summary? If you love organization, you’ll love this bag – whatever you’re carrying, there’s a spot for it.
5. The Travel Pack offers a versatile carry option and is quite comfortable
Designed as an everyday carry and travel bag, its harness system delivers the best of both worlds.
The bag features three handles: two on the sides for briefcase-style carrying or lifting into an overhead compartment, and a thickly padded handle on top for carrying or picking up from the ground.
Furthermore, the bag is self-standing and can be attached to a rolling suitcase for hands-free convenience!
For added comfort, the bag has shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and a decently padded back panel with a rigid frame that adds structure to the bag, along with a channel for airflow (although you may still sweat a little).
Moreover, these straps are adjustable, allowing you to tighten or loosen them as needed.
Despite these features, the harness system of the Nomatic Travel Pack has some limitations.
The bag weighs 4.16 lbs, making it quite heavy, especially when at full capacity.
And, while the straps work well for a 20L bag, some users find the padding insufficient and not adequately distributed for a loaded 30L bag, which could cause discomfort during travel.
To compensate for this, Nomatic offers an optional waist strap at an extra cost.
Related: Backpacks brands for travel
The Travel Pack, like all Nomatic bags, comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects!
This means that if your bag develops any issues related to craftsmanship or materials, Nomatic will happily repair or replace it for you free of charge.
The warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, normal wear and tear, abuse of the backpack, or the natural breakdown of colours and materials over extended time and use.
You can learn more about it here.
What we don’t like…
So in this section, I’ll dive into the details and explore what left me feeling a little less than satisfied with this pack.
The Nomatic Travel Pack is quite pricey
Of course, to have to ask the question: is the Nomatic Travel Pack really worth the price? means the bag’s price point is rather steep.
Priced between $250-299 like other travel backpacks such as the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45l, Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack 35L, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25, and the AER Travel Pack 3, the Nomatic Travel Pack may be out of reach for budget-conscious travelers or those seeking a more economical option.
While the Nomatic Travel Pack’s price may deter some buyers, its exceptional features and durability make it a worthy investment for frequent travelers seeking a reliable and long-lasting backpack.
In other words, you won’t be buying new luggage any time soon.
The abundance of pockets and features in the Nomatic Travel Pack can be overwhelming and distracting.
While some appreciate the versatility and usefulness of the numerous features, other users and even a few reviewers simply find them over-engineered and excessive. One Reddit user expressed concern about using only a fraction of the features, saying the bag is: “A bit over engineered. As much as I appreciated many of the odds and ends they pack into this bag, I know my travel patterns enough to know I’d use only a fraction of them.”
Also, using all 20 pockets in the bag may pose a challenge in finding specific items in a timely fashion. Some pockets become tight when the main compartment is full, and utilizing all of the internal organization may prove difficult.
Another person complained about shallow pockets saying: LOTS of bells and whistles. This bag is feature rich. You’re probably interested in it because of that! However, I found when “fully” packed, the pockets became an issue. For the most part, they were too shallow. The biggest instance was the front pocket, wherein it was difficult to fit things in all the smaller pockets inside and then zip it close. You’ll find shallow pockets to be an issue in many less feature-rich bags as well but tarpaulin has very little give, so it’s just more apparent.”
Also, I found that some people did not like the fact that the bag comes with lots of similar zippers. This is because these similar zippers can be confusing, and they make a lot of noise when jiggly about.
As an example, a user said: “I like that it keeps it shape and the pockets are great. Zippers annoy me thought…theres too many of them without any identifiers and they’re kind of stiff.”
Finally, due to the many features, the Nomatic Travel Pack is relatively heavy, and some features may malfunction or not work as intended.
Related: Best backpacks for techies
Complaints about scuffed exterior & uncomfortable harness system when loaded
The Nomatic Travel Pack has been subject to criticism regarding its uncomfortable harness system and scuffed exterior.
When loaded to its maximum capacity of 30L, the bag can become quite heavy (weighs 4.3 lbs) and uncomfortable to carry due to insufficient padding on the straps.
A Reddit reviewer has this to say: “While it’s perfectly comfortable for commuting, I wouldn’t recommend it if you plan on hiking or walking with it for longer periods… Like others have said, depending on how you pack it, it does tend to tip over if it’s at all front heavy. A tad bit heavy, if you’re worried about that, but it’s not a factor for me.”
To mitigate this, I advise you to use the hip belt if you’ll be wearing the backpack for a longer period for weight distribution.
Also, if you want a backpack for international travel, the
Additionally, there is no strap management system to keep excess straps from dangling when the shoulder or sternum straps are tightened. I would have loved to see some strap bands to help manage excess straps.
In addition, some people have noted that its exterior shows scuff marks with time, so this is something to keep in mind before buying this bag.
Alternative to consider: The Nomatic Travel Bag (40L)
Do you wish for more space in a Nomatic bag?
The Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is an excellent option for those who require a larger capacity backpack than the Nomatic Travel Pack (30L).
With its 40-liter storage space, the Nomatic Travel Bag offers more room to store all your travel essentials, making it an ideal choice for extended trips or vacations.
It is also designed with a multitude of pockets and compartments, including a padded laptop compartment, a shoe compartment, and a laundry bag. These features enable you to keep your items organized and secure during your travels, while the padded shoulder straps and waist straps provide exceptional comfort and support.
Note: This pack isn’t particularly well suited for day-to-day use due to its large size.
You can check it out here, and you can get more information about this bag in this Nomatic backpack review.
FAQs
Is Nomatic travel pack waterproof?
The zippers of the backpack are also water-resistant, which helps to keep water out of the main compartments of the bag.
Is NOMATIC worth it?
The bags are designed with thoughtful details, such as multiple compartments and pockets, durable materials, water-resistant exteriors, and comfortable padding.
Additionally, the company offers a lifetime warranty on all its products, which gives customers added peace of mind when making a purchase.
How heavy is Nomatic backpack?
On the other hand, the 14L weighs around 3.5 pounds when empty, which can increase to around 4 pounds when expanded to 20L.
Related: Backpacks brands for travel
Is Nomatic made in USA?
According to the information available on the Nomatic website, their products are designed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and manufactured in the Phillippines.
Will Nomatic travel pack fit under the seat
In summary, the Nomatic Travel pack is approved as a carry-on item for flights.
Related: Carry-on luggage rules
Closing Thoughts
So, is the Nomatic Travel Pack worth it?
However, it’s important to note that this pack may not be the most comfortable option, especially for extended periods of wear. The shoulder straps are relatively thin and there isn’t much ventilation, which could be an issue for some users. Despite this, many people find that they grow to love the pack and adjust to its design over time.
In this review of the Nomatic Travel Pack, we’ve covered the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s the right backpack for you.
If you still have questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to assist you.
Related: Ultimate Guide to Carry-on Luggage
Related: Ultimate Guide to Checked Luggage
1 thought on “Is the Nomatic Travel Pack Worth it? Everything You Need to Know”
Thank you for this comprehensive review of the Nomatic Travel Pack! It’s great to hear that the pack is durable and well-organized, which are both essential qualities for a travel backpack. I appreciate your honesty about the pack’s comfort level, as that is also an important factor to consider when choosing a backpack.
Your breakdown of the pros and cons of the Nomatic Travel Pack is very helpful, and I feel much more informed about whether this backpack is the right fit for my needs. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights and experiences with this backpack. Your review has definitely helped me make a more informed decision about my next travel backpack purchase.